Young Griffo vs. Tommy White (1st meeting)

Young Griffo drew with Tommy White 123 lbs by PTS in round 8 of 8

• Date: 1893-12-18
• Location: McGurn's Handball Court, Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Referee: George Siler


Two fights with Tommy White “framed” Griffo’s career in the United States and took place 10 years apart in Chicago. According to Tommy White (as quoted in Chicago Tribune on December 8th, 1927, the day after Griffo’s death), they fought with 2-ounce gloves in 1893.


Brooklyn Eagle, December 19, 1893:

“Chicago, Ill., December 19—One of the fastest bouts ever seen in this city was the eight round glove contest at McGurn’s hand ball court between Alf Griffiths, known as Young Griffo, and Tommy White, the local featherweight, last night. The boxing was of the whirlwind order from first to last, and although the Australian tried all he knew to knock White out, he did not at any time get near it, and Tommy was there at the end of the eighth round. Griffo appeared to be in better shape than at any time before in this city, and certainly was lighter. White weighed 123 pounds and looked to be at least fifteen pounds less than Griffo.”


Chicago Tribune, December 19, 1893:

“Young Griffo was well tried out at McGurn’s court last night and demonstrated the fact that he is one of the greatest if not the greatest little man now before the public. He was in no condition, yet succeeded in besting and nearly stopping Tommy White.

“Griffo demonstrated that he can punch, which was thought to be the weak point of his work. He further demonstrated that he is vulnerable, and that a clever man can land often and hard on him. He seems willing to take a punch, to give one, and while clever both with hands, feet, and head, seems to lose sight of defensive work in his eagerness for fast offensive. There is but one faster fighter before the public—viz.: Jack McAuliffe. The latter is probably the fastest two-handed fighter in the world.

“Tommy White was Griffo’s opponent last night and by the usual gameness which has always characterized him stood to his work for the eight rounds of the contest and under the conditions secured a draw, it having been agreed that if both men were ‘there’ when the eighth round was ended the mill should be called a draw. White was there, a trifle messed up, but still there. Griffo himself did not escape. White, never a stiff puncher, landed heavily at times on the Australian, and with a rally in the third round brought him up straight and with more strength might have gotten him to ‘going.’

“If a decision had been made Griffo would have won. That was acknowledged by all and the referee, George Siler, so declared himself after the mill. The Australian secured first blood and the only knock-down of the fight, although it was a fluke, White tripping over some feet that had wandered into the ring under the ropes.

“While it is acknowledged that Griffo can punch, still he did not secure a fair knock-down, and White is none too strong in his legs either. This made some people skeptical. But he tire quickly as the natural result of lack of condition and was not a good man after the second round.

“After he had finished he went out and found that his share of the receipts had been attached for a debt. Griffo had worked fast and well—for somebody else.”